I recommend this book to mostly teenagers from grades 5th Grade through 12th Grade and also adults. It is good to read for teenagers because you can relate to John and Lorraine, if you are having family problems. Adults can relate to Mr. Pignati, if you have lost someone dear to you. You can learn a lot from this book. For example, I learned that life is what I make of it and that I should make the right choices. You would like this book if you like funny and sad books.
Summary of "The Pigman"
There was two teenagers named John and Lorraine. They both had troubles with their parents. John and Lorraine played phone jokes on random people. That's when they met Angelo Pignati, also known as the Pigman. Mr. Pignati has no friends at all. His only friend is Bobo, a baboon who lives in the zoo. He treats John and Lorraine really nice. They become like a family. As their relationship progresses, they all learn more about each other and themselves. But, things start changing and they face hardships.
Mr. Pignati gets a heart attack and has to stay at the hospital. Having the Mr. Pignati's house for their own, John and Lorraine throw a party. Everything goes wrong when Norton, their bad friend, crashes the party and breaks all of Mr. Pignati's precious pigs. Mr. Pignati returns home just after it happened. He was really sad. John and Lorraine felt guilty and asks him to go to the zoo to see his dear friend, Bobo. At the zoo, they learn that Bobo had died from pneumonia. Mr. Pignati was shocked and had a heart attck. He died.
John and Lorraine learn that they can't blame anyone but themselves. They had trespassed and was being punished for it. They learn that their life was what they made of it - nothing more and nothing less.
Biography of Paul Zindel
Our author is Paul Zindel. He was born on Staten Island in May 15, 1936. His father left the family when he was young. Moving from apartment to apartment with his sister and mother, Zindel saw the world. Zindel dared himself to speak and act his true feelings in fantasy and secret; that is probably what made him a writer.
Paul Zindel wrote his first play in high school. During high school, some students asked him to write a play for an assembly to raise money. He decided that even if he could not succeed in the real world, then he would help other people succeed.
Zindel went to Wager College on Staten Island. He found a playwright mentor named Edward Albee. Edward Albee taught Zindel creative writing courses. He was Zindel’s inspiration in writing plays. Paul Zindel wrote his second play near the end of college.
During ten years of teaching chemistry and physics, Zindel continued to write plays. His frist staged play was “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the Moon Marigolds”. Charlotte Zolotow, editor for Harper and Row, saw the play and tracked Zindel down. Charlotte Zolotow got Zindel to write his first novel, “The Pigman”.
In 1969, Paul Zindel quit his job at teaching chemistry and physics for high school students. He felt that writing for the teenagers would best help them. Zindel wrote books from the children’s own point of view. He wanted them to know that he was on their side and that they were not alone on their battle with growing up as teenagers. He died on March 27, 2003.
"The Pigman"
I recommend this book to mostly teenagers from grades 5th Grade through 12th Grade and also adults. It is good to read for teenagers because you can relate to John and Lorraine, if you are having family problems. Adults can relate to Mr. Pignati, if you have lost someone dear to you. You can learn a lot from this book. For example, I learned that life is what I make of it and that I should make the right choices. You would like this book if you like funny and sad books.Summary of "The Pigman"
There was two teenagers named John and Lorraine. They both had troubles with their parents. John and Lorraine played phone jokes on random people. That's when they met Angelo Pignati, also known as the Pigman. Mr. Pignati has no friends at all. His only friend is Bobo, a baboon who lives in the zoo. He treats John and Lorraine really nice. They become like a family. As their relationship progresses, they all learn more about each other and themselves. But, things start changing and they face hardships.Mr. Pignati gets a heart attack and has to stay at the hospital. Having the Mr. Pignati's house for their own, John and Lorraine throw a party. Everything goes wrong when Norton, their bad friend, crashes the party and breaks all of Mr. Pignati's precious pigs. Mr. Pignati returns home just after it happened. He was really sad. John and Lorraine felt guilty and asks him to go to the zoo to see his dear friend, Bobo. At the zoo, they learn that Bobo had died from pneumonia. Mr. Pignati was shocked and had a heart attck. He died.
John and Lorraine learn that they can't blame anyone but themselves. They had trespassed and was being punished for it. They learn that their life was what they made of it - nothing more and nothing less.
Biography of Paul Zindel
Our author is Paul Zindel. He was born on Staten Island in May 15, 1936. His father left the family when he was young. Moving from apartment to apartment with his sister and mother, Zindel saw the world. Zindel dared himself to speak and act his true feelings in fantasy and secret; that is probably what made him a writer.
Paul Zindel wrote his first play in high school. During high school, some students asked him to write a play for an assembly to raise money. He decided that even if he could not succeed in the real world, then he would help other people succeed.
Zindel went to Wager College on Staten Island. He found a playwright mentor named Edward Albee. Edward Albee taught Zindel creative writing courses. He was Zindel’s inspiration in writing plays. Paul Zindel wrote his second play near the end of college.
During ten years of teaching chemistry and physics, Zindel continued to write plays. His frist staged play was “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the Moon Marigolds”. Charlotte Zolotow, editor for Harper and Row, saw the play and tracked Zindel down. Charlotte Zolotow got Zindel to write his first novel, “The Pigman”.
In 1969, Paul Zindel quit his job at teaching chemistry and physics for high school students. He felt that writing for the teenagers would best help them. Zindel wrote books from the children’s own point of view. He wanted them to know that he was on their side and that they were not alone on their battle with growing up as teenagers. He died on March 27, 2003.
Link for Games
.Puzzle
The Pigman Chapter 6 through 15 Test
Multiple Choice
1) Who is Conchetta?
a. Lorraine’s mom
b. Mr. Pignati’s wife
c. The zoo lady
d. Mr. Pignati’s sister
2) Who sells beer to children and doesn’t get caught by the policemen?
a. Mr. Pignati
b. Tony
c. Norton
d. the zoo lady
3) What is John not afraid of, but instead wants to see?
a. ghosts
b. pigs
c. monkeys
d. baboons
4) Who is Bobo?
a. the wife
b. the baboon
c. the neighbor’s pet
d. the zoo keeper
True or False
6) Mr. Pignati had a heart attack and went to the hospital.
8) John kissed Lorraine.
Quotes
10) “She and a few of friends had too much tonight at some old man’s house on Howard Avenue they almost wrecked the place.”
12) “Bobo…”
Short answer
13) What happened to Bobo? Why is he important to Mr. Pignati?
14) What did Norton do at the party?
15) If you were John and Lorraine, what would you do to make Mr. Pignati feel better after the party?
Presentation Poster
By : Camilla D. and Phil T.